Hello all. On the 6th of this month I ordered a brass viper, and it still hasn’t arrived. Everything I am finding on the internet is the aluminum model. I have always been a fan of brass in the higher keys of his whistles, so I went with the brass for the low D. However, I am quite curious as to how it sounds! And since I am impatiently awaiting it’s arrival with much anticipation, I’m curious to hear for myself how the sound differs from the aluminum! I’ve read plenty on it, but never heard.
Would anyone happen to have any sound clips or links to some playing of this particular model? I’d love to hear it!
That is the narrow bore high D whistle. I am talking about the brass viper. The brass low D. There is no sound sample for it on that page, nor do any videos of it come up on youtube upon searching.
Strangely enough, right after I clicked “submit” on this thread, my phone started ringing that very moment, and it was burke whistles, and my whistle is being shipped today. So I suppose I shall not be waiting too long to hear it! Perhaps I should put some recordings of it up on the internet, since I am sure other people have searched it, too…
Hopefully it will be here tomorrow. If it’s as good as the other two burke whistles I own, I will surely be quite happy with it. Was just curious as to the tonal differences and wanting to hear it for myself. When I posted this thread I wasn’t sure how long it would be until it arrives!
Sounds just like the aluminum Viper if you aren’t the player. It feels different in the players hands but the timbre is the same. You aren’t going to gain much listening to internet clips anyway - way too many variables.. Opinions may vary.
You’ll be happy with it, I am sure. I own/play a couple dozen Burkes. They are incredibly consistent from key to key and across materials. The composite whistles do have a slightly mellower tone than the aluminum and brass models.
I’ve owned one of each in brass, aluminum and composite. I defy anyone to tell the difference between the aluminum and brass by listening to them - live or recorded. The composite sounds only slightly different because the window size between the mouthpiece and ramp is ever so slightly smaller. I kept the composite for purely personal reasons and sold the others. I won’t criticize them on the basis of materials. They are all excellent whistles.
I own an aluminum and brass burke, although they are in different keys , so perhaps that is why I’m detecting some difference in tone between the two. I highly prefer the brass. Tone aside, I prefer a more weighty whistle! I don’t like the lightweight feeling like I am holding an instrument made of cardboard! However, the aluminum does sound quite nice as well! I’ve had such positive experience with these whistles, that I can’t imagine playing a burke and not liking it, although I have yet to try the composite! (thinking of getting one in B, Bb, or low F, perhaps!)
Perhaps the difference in the way the whistle feels in the hands can contribute towards the player perceive the sound as being different while they are playing.. I have no idea. However, I have other types of whistle in brass and aluminum both, that are indeed in the same key from the same maker, and I do notice some subtle differences in sound. I think the brass ones might be just the slightest grain more complex, and the aluminum more “sharp” (not sharp notationally, but to describe the quality of the sound, not sure what other word to use! ) Could all be in my head, though!
And indeed, method of recording does change what you are hearing in the recording of a whistle. However, I was not aware as to how drastically the brass differs in tone from the aluminum in a low whistle, seeing as I’ve never heard the brass burke viper, which is one of the reasons I was wanting to give it a listen! Thank you for pointing out they are quite similar. I think I shall be quite pleased with it! Although, this does differ a bit from what I have read from the reports of others. In all the threads I read, it seemed the concensus was that they are mostly similar, but with a few minor notable differences. I was hoping to see if I could hear these for myself, but I suppose I shall be doing that tomorrow when I’m playing it all day, assuming it will arrive tomorrow!
And thank you for the warm welcome! Although I am new here, I have been reading on this forum here and there for quite some time now! I have definitely found the forum to be quite interesting and informative, and look forward to spending some more time on here, when I’m not playing whistle!
I am looking quite forward to getting more into low-whistle playing. Until recently I’ve played mostly whistles no lower than the key of A, although I own susatos in almost every key lower. I started playing my susato low D primarily a few weeks ago, and decided it was time to upgrade to one made by the person who has made my favourites that I own in higher keys! The excitement is almost too much!
(I was going to put this at the bottom of the last message, but for some reason on this forum when a post gets too long, it starts scrolling up and can’t let me see what I am typing and makes me go cross-eyed because the writing box starts having an earthquake . Does this just happen here, or is it my computer?)
. Does this just happen here, or is it my computer?)